Archives Glossary of special terms

madalai

part of the bodigai or bodhika

madhuchchhishtavidhana

lotus-wax mode of casting metal image i.e. (fr.) cire-perdue

madhya-nadi

interspace between walls

madyasthayee

First string sarini producing a middle note on the vina instrument.

maha-gopura

main temple-gateway/gopuram with 7 to 16 storeys (cf. maha-maryada)

maha-mandapa

large assembly hall; Pillared hall immediately in front of the ardha-mandapa, or antarala, or the proximal half of a mandapa with two seriate pillars, closed or open, in cave temples.

maha-maryada

main temple-gateway/gopuram with 7 to 16 storeys (cf. maha-gopura)

maha-purusha

great soul

mahanasika

Projected nose-like part from the side of the griva and sikhara showing the frontal aspects of apsidal vimana’s and having pillars with surmounting arched torana’s.

maharaja-lilasana

sitting posture with one leg folded at the hip, touching the thigh of the other, which hangs with the heels slightly raised above the pedestal which is touched only by the toe or a few fingers

maharajalila

a royal pose of sitting at ease; seated pose of ease like a king, with the right hand resting on the knee of the bent right leg

Maitreya

the future Buddha

makara

an ornamental motif developed from an alligator or a crocodile head with a floriated tail; mythical sea creature combining elements of fish, crocodile, lion and elephant, symbolising life giving power of the water

makara clasp

a clasp with the motif of a makara

makara-chudamani

a golden ornament worn in the centre of the head dress with the makara motif below

makara-kanti

a stiff necklace with a makara motif

makara-kundala

(also makara-kuntala); ear ornament with a makara motif

makara-makuta

makara decoration on a crown

makara-torana

Entrance decoration with a festoon – straight or arched, spanning the tops of two columns, the festoon or torana being a decorative garland or scroll issuing from mouth of makara’s (crocodiles), placed over the capitals of the supporting stambha’s. Such… Continue Reading →

makuta

crown

mala

looped garland

malasthana

Apex of pillars or pilaster shaft below capital with looped garland (mala) hanging from the padma-bandha.

mandala

halo (cf. bha-mandala)

mandalam

territorial division within a kingdom

mandapa

(also mandapam, Tamil: மண்டபம்) open or closed pillared or astylar hall; place of assembly

mangaly-sutra

auspicious string on neck (of females)

mangamalai

a necklace with a motif of mangoes

manigramam

influential guild of medieval merchants in South India

Manikkavachakar

ninth-century Shaivite poet-saint who lived after the sixty-three nayanmar; one of the nalvar (‘Revered Four’)

manimala

string of beads

mankai

Tamil classification of women: a nubile girl twelve to thirteen years old

mantra-japa

chant

matantai

Tamil classification of women: an ingénue fourteen to nineteen years of age

mauktika-jalaka

pearl-festoons

mauna

silence

© 2024 The Chola Dynasty — Powered by WordPress

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑